Muslim Cultures in the Indian Ocean

This conference aims to explore the diversity of Muslim cultures prevalent in the Indian Ocean region where, historically, Muslims have interacted for centuries with each other and with other peoples and cultures. Islam not only provided the scaffolding that facilitated cultural exchanges but was also the pivot for transforming local societies. The conference seeks to bring together experts from different disciplines and backgrounds including archaeologists, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, and scholars of related disciplines to explore various facets of this diversity. This conference marks a reconnaissance of the Indian Ocean not as a periphery but as a centre for the study of Muslim cultures.

Indeed, over the past couple of decades, significant new research has been undertaken across East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent leading to fresh insights on a number of facets of Indian Ocean cultures. Some of these studies were written about the Indian Ocean on thelongue duréeand other studies were focused on local and regional histories. Cultural encounters across the Indian Ocean down the centuries have given rise to cities, towns, ports and other constructions and artefacts which, while remaining distinctive in themselves, also exhibit layers of shared features. They manifest the craftsmanship and values of their creators, peoples whose diversity is almost proverbial. Similar endeavours are present in almost all aspects of human creativity through contact, including religious beliefs and practices, literature, architecture, trade, cuisine, textiles and fashion, etc. Cultural contacts, exchanges and networks were facilitated by the sea as a link between these diverse worlds. Like the Mediterranean - so well studied by Fernand Braudel - the Indian Ocean is a rich contact zone that is central to the understanding of cultural diversity in this vast region.

The registration fee includes:Entry for three days, lunches, coffee breaks and an inaugural dinner.

Day 1 (12 September)

(9:00 am)Registration

(10:00 am)Welcome Address

Firoz RasulPresident of the Aga Khan University

Professor Leif StenbergDirector of the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations

(2:20 pm)One Book, Multiple Cultures: In the Making of a Quranic Manuscript in East Africa Walid Ghali: Assistant Professor, Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations and Head Librarian, Aga Khan Library, London.

(2:40 pm)Al-Buṣīrī on the Shores of the Indian Ocean: Swahili and Malay Qaṣīda Manuscripts in Comparative PerspectiveMulaika Hijjas: L​ecturer in South East Asian Studies, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, SOAS University of London.Angelica Baschiera: Manager of the Centre of African Studies, SOAS University of London.

(3:00 pm)Transmission of Islam to Southeast Asia: Islamic Identity in the Malay Hikayat GenreKatia Chaterji: Ph.D Candidate, Department of History, University of Washington-Seattle.

(9:30 am)Shāsha/ Shāshk or Varji Boat Type: An Ethnological Study on Its Construction Technique, Function and Its Influence on the Northern Persian Gulf`s SocietiesAbdolreza Dashtizadeh: Head of Cultural Heritage Organization of Qeshm Free Area (Q F.A), Qeshm Island.Shadi Kalantar: Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Tehran University.

(9:50 am)The African and Arabian Shores of the Red Sea: The Dhow in Early Modern History, Continuity and Change Dionisius A. Agius: Fellow of the British Academy and Emeritus Al-Qasimi Professor of Arabic Studies and Islamic Material Culture, the University of Exeter.

(11:20 am)The Origins of the Mosque Plan in the Malay-Indonesian ArchipelagoBernard O'Kane: Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture, the American University in Cairo.

(11:40 am)Architectural and Archaeological Investigations on the Coral Stone Mosques of the MaldivesStephane Pradines: Archaeologist, Professor of Muslim Art and Architecture, Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, London.

(2:20 pm)Omani Mosques, Indian Ocean Trade and Arab SocietySoumyen Bandyopadhyay: Professor Sir James Stirling Chair in Architecture and Head of School of Architecture, University of Liverpool.

(2:40 pm)The Islamic Port of al-Balid (Oman), between Land and Sea: Place of Trade, Exchange, Diversity, and CoexistenceAgnese Fusaro: Ph.D, archaeologist, pottery specialist and research member of the ERAAUB team, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Barcelona.Alexia Pavan: Ph.D, archaeologist and the Director of the excavation of Husn Al Baleed, Salalah.

(3:00-3:30 pm)Discussion

(3:30-4:00 pm)Coffee Break

(4:00 pm)Tex-Tiles: Islamic Architecture and Material Culture along the Swahili Coast and in the Indian Ocean World, 1250-1450 AD.Vera-Simone Schulz: Research collaborator in the Department of Gerhard Wolf at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz - Max-Planck-Institut and Ph.D Candidate at Humboldt University of Berlin.

(4:20 pm)Historical Roles of the Female Face Mask in the West Indian OceanManami Goto: Ph.D candidate in Arab and Islamic Studies, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter.

(4:40 pm)Muslim Cultures through the Aperture: An East African Photo StoryNasira Sheikh-Miller: Senior museum professional with a background in learning, interpretation and community engagement.

(11:20 am)Religion, Ethnicity, and Identity in the Zanzibar SultanateValerie J. Hoffman: Professor of Islamic Studies and Head of the Department of Religion, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

(11:40 am)Muslim Identities in the Indian Ocean: The Ibadi Al Bu Sa’id of Oman during XVIII-XIX CenturiesBeatrice Nicolini: Associate Professor of History and Institutions of Africa, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan.